Switch mechanism



March 18, 1 930. H. K. KRANTZ SWITCH MECHANISM Filed Dec. 20, 1926 INVENTOR AT'TORNEY Patented Mar. 18, 1930 UNITED, STATES PATENT OFFICE HU'IBEBT K. KRANTZ, OF ROCKVILLE CENTER, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO WESTING- HOUSE ELECTRIC & MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF IPENNSYL- VANIA SWITCH MECHANISM Application filed December 20, 1926.

My invention relates to switch mechanisms and particularly to arc-quenching devices therefor.

One object of my invention is to provide an arc-quenching barrier that shall be capable of quickly extinguishing an are after the switch has been opened, thereby preventing undue fusing of the contact member.

Another object of my invention is to provide an arc-extinguishing barrier for a knife switch wherein a large cooling surface is placed in the path of the arc after the blade is withdrawn from the break jaws.

These and other objects are attained by means of the apparatus illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein Figure 1 is a sectional view of a switch embodying my invention, taken along the Line II in Fig. 2, showing the fuse, switch and barrier;

Fig. 2 is a broken face view of the switch mechanism showing the barrier construction;

Figs. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 are detail views illustrating various modified forms of barrier plates.

Referring to Figs,- 1 and- 2 the switch mechanism includes a housing comprising a base plate 1, metal wall members 2 and a metal cover 3 for enclosing a switch mechanism 4. The switch mechanism 4. comprises an insulating base 5, break jaw contact members 6, pivot jaw members 7 and a knifeblade switch or contact member 8 of a wellknown type that is adapted for movement into and out of engagement with the break jaw contact members 6. Fuse receptacles 9 and fuses 11 are also mounted on the insulating base 5. Insulating extensions 12 are riveted to the switch blades 8 and serve to connect them to an operating crank 13.

Arms 14 and 15 are pivoted on the operating crank 13 and are slidably supported by studs 16 and 17, respectively, on the side walls 2 and serve to support an arc-quenching bar rier assembly 18. The arc-extinguishing barrier 18 comprises a plurality of groups 19 of metal (plates 21 that are arranged in ,superimpose insulating strips 22. The strlps 22 are of substantially the same thickness as the plates 21 relation and are separated by Serial No. 155,800.

and serve to support the plates in such manner that an air space 23 is provided between adjacent plates.

The plates 21 of each group 19 are provided with alined slots 24, that are also alined with the break jaw members 6. Consequently, the free ends of the switch blades 8 pass through the slots 24 in moving to open position. The metal .plates 21 and the insulating strips 22 are secured together by means of threaded bolts 25. The operating crank 13 is mounted in bushings 26 and 27 and is rotated by means of a handle 28.

In operation, the handle 28 is drawn downward, thereby rotating the operating crank 13 in a counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 1. This motion withdraws the switch blades 8 from contact with the jaws 6 and moves the arms 14 and 15 substantially longitudinally of the housing, thus bringing the barriers 19 between the stationary break jaws 6 and the moving ends of the switch blades 8. Because of this movement of the barriers 19, the arc is brought into contact with a larger surface of metal and is thereby more rapidly cooled and quenched than is the case if stationary barriers are used.

I In Figs. 3, 4:, 5, 6, 7 and 8 I have illustrated other arrangements and designs of the plates 21. In Fig. 3, the plate .21 is shown as being unnotched. Figs. 4, 5 and 6 show modified forms of notches. In Fig. 7 the plates are shown in stepped relation and Fig. 8 illustrates a curved notched plate.

While I have described and illustrated several embodiments of my invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that Various other changes, modifications, subst1- tutions, omissions and additions may be made in the apparatus illustrated without departing'from the spirit and scope of the nvention, as set forth in the appended cla ms.

I claim as my invention:

1. Switch mechanism comprising a contact jaw member, a switch-blade member movable into and out of engagement with the contact member, an arc-quenching device comprising separate, insulating metal plates provided with aligned slots through which the switch blade moves to open position and 2 p v meaeea means for moving the arc-quenchin device into a position between the jaw mem er and the swinging-end of said blade member.

2. The combination with a knife-blade 5 switch having a recessed contact jaw therefor,

of an arc-extinguishing member comprising a plurality of superimposed spaced conductive plates disposed on opposite sides of the recess and means for introducing the areextinguishin member between the contact jaw and the ife-blade during the opening operation.

3. The combination with a knife-blade switch having a recessed contact jaw therefor, of an arc-extinguishing member comprising a plurality of superimposed spaced conductive plates extending across the path of an are drawn by the switch blade when being separated from the contact jaw and pro- I vided with alined slots through which the switch blade passes, and means for moving the arc-extinguishing member between the stationary contact and the swinging end of the switch blade.

4. Switch mechanism comprising a contact member, a switch member movable into and out of engagement with the contact member an arc-quenching device normally disposed out of the path of movement of the switch member and movable across the ath thereof by the switch member when t e latter is moved to open position, the said device having a slot through which the switch member moves.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 9th day of December,

HUBERT K. MANTZ. 

